The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-11

OF the general Government TO enforce
those provisions, no substantial change
has been made. Tho necessity OF the
great powers conceded by the Constitution
originally to the Federal Government and
the equal necessity of the autonomy OF the
States and their power to regulate their
domestic affairs, remain as the great feat
ures OF our complex form OF government"
The decision in the Virginia cases, decided
last Monday, The Poa regards as sweeping
away all doubt as TO the position OF the
court OF last resort as to the relations OF
the States to the Federal Government and
their powers under the Federal Consttu-
ton. That decision, il notes Significantly,
was agreed to by every member OF the
court except Judge Harlan, the only one OF
them whoisa citizen ola formcrslave State
Kentucky. every Republican Justice"
says The Post, "was found on the side OF
the State and against the Federal Govern
ment." They refused to degrade Virginia
to the level of a person who might be
summoned to answer in court-to reduce
to the dimensions OF Il mere citizen a
sovereignty whose coordinate power in
the Union is attestcd in the Federal Con-
stitution and the existence of the court IT,
self. They declared by their decision that
State cannot be compelled, as a merely
subordinate creature, to repeal its laws and
| change, alter or abolish its financial
schemes by order Of a Federal Court.
They went farther, and rebuked the Dis
trict Judge for entertaining the suits thus
dismissed by a reassertion OF States rights
so strong as justified the people OF Rich
mond in extravagant evidences OF satisfac.
ton over what they regarded rs ~ fixed
and final triumph OF State sovereignty"
Quoting again from The Post: GAS that
prominent Republican Senator, Gen
1
IIawley, has pointed out, the tendency to
ward a consolidation ofthe entire powers o.
government is one OF the strongest today
and one of those most dangerous TO the re
publican experiment as our fathers under
stood il, and it is well that this tendency
should be arrested in thisstriking,way by
Supreme Court OF Northern Republicans.
To the people Of the South It is especial,
gratifying, because ii emphasizes 10 then
the value OF those interpretations OF tn,
Constitution by Calhoun and others which
are the outgrowth Of free minds, untram
meled by the considerations that have s.
largely governed Northern communities il
their dependence upon and closer relation
ships with the central authority, bccaus,
in it there is vested the control OF the eX
ternal as well as the internal commerce o
the country. In the strict recognition anC
observance Of the rights Of the States liei
the safety OF the Union. The balance must
be maintained exactingly. And il can. TIL,
Constitution is plain instrument, easil!
interpreted, and when there is doubt tn,
Supreme Court remains, and, as we hav'
seen, IL can be trusted TO decide justly and
with an almost jealous care thatthe State
which made the Union shall he protecie,
by il in the full possession of all those right
which they reserved TO themselves, an,
also in those other rights which the peo
pie have reserved TO themselves, free from
State as well as Federal control and inter
ference.